Rosh Chodeshרֹאשׁ חֹדֶשׁ

The Torah commands blowing the trumpets and bringing offerings "at the beginnings of your months". The Bible also mentions a festive meal at the new moon in the time of King Saul.^1,2,3

The Mishnah describes the examination of witnesses who had seen the new moon and its solemn sanctification by the court. Since late antiquity the calendar has been determined by calculation.⁴

According to tradition, the first commandment given to Israel as a people concerns the counting of months ("This month shall be for you the beginning of months"). Rabbinic interpretation sees in this an image of renewal: the moon wanes and grows again.⁵

Tradition links Rosh Chodesh with women: according to the midrash, women were rewarded for refusing to give their jewelry for the golden calf.

Women have the custom of limiting certain kinds of work on this day; the Shulchan Arukh calls this a good custom.⁶

Since the 1970s, women's Rosh Chodesh groups for study and prayer have emerged, especially in liberal and Modern Orthodox settings.

During the first days of the month kiddush levanah ("sanctification of the moon"), a blessing over the waxing moon, is recited, most often on Saturday night.⁷

Work is permitted. There is no fasting on Rosh Chodesh and tachanun is not said. Some have the custom of adding something festive to their meal.⁸

Ya’aleh ve-Yavo is inserted into the Amidah and the blessing after meals. A shortened Hallel is recited – a practice the Talmud describes as a custom, not an obligation.^9,10

The Torah reading is Numbers 28:1–15 (four people called up), and the Musaf prayer is added.^11,12

On the Shabbat before the new month, the month is announced in the synagogue (birkat ha-chodesh), stating the day and time of the molad.¹⁰

The symbol is the waxing moon, depicted in art and on calendars.

There are no established special dishes; some have the custom of preparing a festive meal.

The Jewish calendar follows the moon. When the thin crescent of the new moon appears in the sky, a new month begins and the minor festival of Rosh Chodesh is celebrated.